Speaking after his side’s 3-0 loss at Wigan he indicated that talks would be conducted between the clubs in private. The Geordie boss is well aware of Ben Arfa’s ongoing exile at Newcastle and is understood to be monitoring the situation.

Birmingham will look into the possibility when the transfer window closes and the loan window opens.

Clark said: "We will see. We will see if anything comes up that is different to what we have got. You never know.

"It goes a bit crazy in the next 24, 48 hours and something might drop that could be of interest to us."